Submarine

The United States, which does not like its affairs to be meddled with but is quick to meddle in the affairs of others, came out of the blue recently to offer unsolicited advice to the Philippines in an attempt to dissuade it from buying a submarine from the Russians.

But this meddling by the United States in Philippine affairs is best suited as a subject for a column at some later date. I prefer to talk about the subject of a submarine purchase itself now because I feel it a more urgent matter, regardless of from whom the purchase is made.

I do not subscribe to the idea of buying a submarine. A submarine is a war machine. But war is not an option the Philippines is prepared to take in whatever front it is to be waged --on land, in the air, at sea, or underneath it. We cannot even solve our traffic problems, how much more geopolitical issues by force.

We cannot use a submarine for defensive purposes and as a deterrent. Using a submarine, even for defense, involves the use of force that may very well trigger and even more forceful response. What do we do then if that happens? Do we then go to war?

A submarine as a deterrent can happen only if we can afford to acquire the advanced types of submarines other countries with real interests to protect and project with credible force already have. But if all that we can afford to buy are the outmoded ones, then what kind of deterrence are we talking about?

The folly of Philippine governments has always been to measure our capabilities on the scale of others. Just because other countries have submarines doesn't mean we need to have one. Let us not continue repeating the same mistakes over and over again. Look at K to 12. We rushed it, even if unready, just because everybody else in the world already does.

Look at the fighter jets we bought from South Korea. In the Philippine context of never having had a credible aerial fighting force, the jets were a step forward. But in the context of today's conflict-ridden world, our jets can never match what our neighbors have.

If we needed jets, we should have gotten a few advanced models instead of dozens of under-matched ones.

So let us perish the thought of buying a submarine unless we intend to buy the best, and in numbers that can be used for war, if that is what we really want for ourselves. If not, then going ahead will be a waste of money, some of which I think will line some people's pockets, and for purposes that will not be served. Instead of pride, we could become a laughing stock.